Butter to Oil Converter
Swap butter and oil by the fat they actually contain — in cups, tablespoons, sticks or grams
Butter is about 81% fat (USDA FoodData Central lists 81.1 g of fat per 100 g of unsalted butter) and the rest is mostly water. Oil is 100% fat. Swapping them cup for cup gives a greasier bake one way and a drier one the other, so this converter matches the fat instead. A cup of butter weighs 227 g and a cup of vegetable oil 218 g.
Butter to oil by fat content
| Butter | Butter (g) | Oil, fat-matched | Oil, ¾ rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 tablespoon | 14 g | 11.5 g · 2½ tsp | 2¼ tsp |
| ¼ cup | 57 g | 46 g · 3⅓ tbsp | 3 tbsp |
| ⅓ cup | 76 g | 61 g · 4½ tbsp | 4 tbsp |
| ½ cup (1 stick) | 113 g | 92 g · 6¾ tbsp | 6 tbsp |
| ¾ cup | 170 g | 138 g · 10 tbsp | 9 tbsp |
| 1 cup (2 sticks) | 227 g | 184 g · 13½ tbsp | 12 tbsp (¾ cup) |
Oil to butter by fat content
| Oil | Oil (g) | Butter (g) | Butter in kitchen measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| ¼ cup | 55 g | 67 g | 4¾ tbsp |
| ½ cup | 109 g | 134 g | 9½ tbsp · 1⅕ sticks |
| 1 cup | 218 g | 269 g | 1 cup + 3 tbsp · 2⅜ sticks |
Where the swap works
- Works well in muffins, quick breads, brownies, snack cakes, pancakes and waffles — recipes that melt the butter anyway.
- Avoid it in cookies, shortbread, pastry, scones and buttercream, which need solid fat to trap air or hold shape.
- When oil replaces butter, add back the water the butter carried: a little over a tablespoon of milk or water per stick.
Frequently asked questions
How much oil replaces 1 cup of butter?
About 184 g of oil — a little under ⅞ cup, or 13½ tablespoons — carries the same fat. The common ¾ cup rule is slightly less fat.
How much oil replaces a stick of butter?
About 92 g, which is 6¾ tablespoons of oil. The ¾ rule gives 6 tablespoons.
How much butter replaces 1 cup of oil?
About 269 g of butter, roughly 1 cup plus 3 tablespoons.